Earl Collins, Baltimore County police officer

Earl Collins, a retired Baltimore County police officer and World War II veteran, died at Maryland Shock Trauma Center on Dec. 31 after suffering a fall at his Millersville home. He was 89.

Born in Baltimore and raised on Old Frederick Road in Irvington, he attended Gwynn Falls Junior High School and enlisted in the Navy at 17. He served aboard a landing craft tank and was a motor machinist's mate and anti-aircraft gun loader.

He served in North Africa and in the Mediterranean. He landed tanks and supplies during the invasion of Sicily and at Anzio. He received a Mediterranean Campaign Ribbon with two battle stars. He later assisted in landing tanks and troops in India.

Mr. Collins married the former Mary Thelma Beatty, a resident of Linthicum, while on leave in 1944.

After the war, he did iron work and assisted in the construction of the Bay Bridge. In 1955, he joined the Baltimore County Police Department and was assigned to Halethorpe and Catonsville before being transferred to the traffic division.

He served in the Wilkens Precinct and was named sergeant and later lieutenant. He also held posts at the Parkville and Woodlawn precincts. He retired in 1985.

Mr. Collins received two commendation ribbons and a Silver Star commendation for apprehending two armed robbery suspects in Catonsville.

A funeral service will be held at 9:15 a.m. Monday at the Fink Funeral Home, 426 Crain Highway South in Glen Burnie.

Survivors include his wife of 68 years; a son, Robert Earl Collins of New Windsor; a daughter, Linda Williams of Odenton; three granddaughters; and three great-grandchildren. A daughter, Joanne Anderson, died in 2004.